Ray frank levy



(No Model.)

R. F. LEVY.

' SIGN LETTER. No. 539,957. Patented MayZB, 1895.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAY FRANK LEVY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGN-LETTER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,957, dated May 28, 1895.

Application filed November 16, 1894. Serial No. 529,001. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAY FRANK LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, county and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Sign Letters or Characters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to'produce an improved sign letter or character having an attractive luminous, brilliant or parti-colored contrasting or distinguishing elfect, and at the same time possessing unusual durability as regards ample protection of the luminous or contrasting portion or portions of the letter or character from abrasion, or from adverse weather influences.

The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in the claim hereinafter set forth.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front face View of a sign-letter embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line or m of Fig. 1. r

The body portion 1 of my improved sign letter or character, is composed of glass or any other suitable transparent material, and its outline is hollowed out at the rear so as to provide a recess 2 entirely inclosed by the face portion 3 and the marginal walls 4 of the body portion. At suitable intervals in the outline of the letter or character, there are provided in the face portion 3 indentations or cavities 5, which inthe drawings I have shown as hemispherical,but it is apparent that they may be of any suitable shape, pyramidal, prismatic, or otherwise. Into the indentations or concavities so formed in the face portion, I

insert luminous material 7 such as gold-leaf or silver-leaf, or any other material which will offer a striking contrast to the color of the main portion. The recess 2, including the space in the indentations 5 to the rear of the gold-leaf or other luminous material, is then filled inwith a backing 6 of any desired color. Thus the letter or character, as seen through its transparent or vitrified front face or portion, will present to the eye a series of brilliaut independent bulls-eyes (or other desired fancifulforms) arranged within an interior colored ground formed by the filling 6.

It will be seen that by reason of the recess Zbeing entirely inclosed by the front face and side walls, the backing 6 will be fully protected from adverse weather influences, when the letter has been attached to the surface whereon it is to beplaced, and the gold-leaf will be still better protected by the filling, so that it will retain its brilliancy for an indefinite period, whether the letter has been placed in position or is kept in stock ready to be so placed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A sign letter or character, comprising a transparent vitrified face or body portion having a rear recess inclosed by the front and sides of the body portion, the face portion, over said recess, having also concavities or indentations extending from said recess into said body portion, luminous material as goldleaf placed in said concavities or indentations, leaving said recess portions bare, and a backing or filling of a suitable or desired color in said recess behind and around said luminous portions, whereby there is formed a letter or character of the color of said backing, studded or ornamented at intervals with luminous points, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 

